St. Albans Town is pressing ahead with planning for the Stone House at St. Albans Bay, and town leaders want residents to help define what the historic stone building becomes next.
Town Manager Casey Toof said the town already has a list of needs, including a new roof, ADA-accessible bathrooms, and updates that make the seasonal facility more useful for park events. The building, built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as a bath house, now serves as a gathering place during activities at the bay park.
At an Aug. 17 selectboard meeting, officials discussed ways to expand the building’s usefulness without turning it into a year-round facility. Ideas raised included adding a kitchen area that supports events, along with weatherproofing that extends the building’s shoulder-season use. The most urgent work remains the bathrooms and the slate roof, which is nearing 100 years old.
The roof also carries local significance. The slate connects to Vermont’s slate quarry history, and Vermont’s historic preservation officer, Laura Trieschmann, said alternatives such as simulated slate or other roofing materials are part of the conversation, depending on the town’s goals and budget. She also noted that historic preservation efforts focus on protecting the most important historic features while keeping the property in active use, with state and federal grants available when a town documents need and follows a public input process.
For mason contractors and restoration teams, projects like this start with clarity. Ask owners to define the intended season of use, the accessibility scope, and the historic standards that apply. From there, a conditions assessment and a historic structures report help align design, bidding, and sequencing, especially when roof work, envelope weatherproofing, and public restrooms all touch the same old building.
Town officials said they plan to recruit more members for local committees, share a QR code and survey, and seek quotes for a historic structures report as they shape a larger plan. A 2022 estimate put a larger refurbishment at $1.5 million, and the town said costs now depend on the final scope and bids.
Read the full, original article from St. Albans Messenger here.